Australian Capital Territory Current Acts

CRIMES (RESTORATIVE JUSTICE) ACT 2004 - SECT 6

The objects of this Act are as follows:

        (a)     to enhance the rights of victims of offences by providing restorative justice as a way of empowering victims to make decisions about how to repair the harm done by offences;

        (b)     to set up a system of restorative justice that brings together victims, offenders and their personal supporters in a carefully managed, safe environment;

        (c)     to ensure that the interests of victims of offences are given high priority in the administration of restorative justice under this Act;

        (d)     to enable access to restorative justice at every stage of the criminal justice process without substituting for the criminal justice system or changing the normal process of criminal justice;

        (e)     to enable access to restorative justice in relation to offenders and offences not dealt with by the criminal justice process;

        (f)     to enable referral of offences for restorative justice by—

              (i)     agencies that have a role in the criminal justice system; and

              (ii)     entities that have a role in dealing with offenders, and harm caused by offences, not dealt with by the criminal justice process.

Note 1     Offence includes an offence that is alleged to have been committed, but has not yet been tried in court, or proven (see s 12).

Note 2     Offender includes a person who carries out an offence but cannot be held criminally responsible because of their age (see s 12).